Consumer Protection Unit reminds residents about jury duty scam

Attorney General Matt Denn and the Department of Justice Consumer Protection Unit recently warned Delawareans about scam calls regarding jury duty being made to residents.

DOJ and other agencies have alerted the public to these scams previously, but have received continued reports of them occurring, including recently in Sussex County.

In the scam, the consumer is told over the phone that they failed to report to jury duty and that a sheriff will arrest them or that a capias will be issued for the consumer. The consumer is then told they can pay a fine and that the caller will not send the sheriff to apprehend them.

There are some clear indicators that these calls are a scam. Delawareans eligible for jury duty are always notified about their obligation to serve jury duty by mail; never by telephone, and the sheriffs in Delaware do not have arrest powers.

The attorney general cautions all consumers to be conscientious about suspicious phone calls by:

— Checking with the Delaware Superior Court to see whether they have been summoned if the phone call regards jury duty by calling Superior Court Jury Services at 255-0800 for New Castle County, 735-1901 for Kent County and 855-7055 for Sussex County.

— Never agreeing to pay any fine or other money over the phone.

— Not answering calls from unknown numbers or unfamiliar persons.

— Hanging up on aggressive callers, particularly those who threaten arrest.

The attorney general encourages consumers who believe they may have been scammed to call the toll-free consumer hotline at 800-220-5424 or email the Consumer Protection Unit at consumer.protection@state.de.us.

Affiliated Delaware Papers

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